Trini Posse cooler fete could face a possible shut down later today if promoters fail to comply with public health regulations. The licence to host the event at Bowen Marine Compound, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas has already been approved by the court. However, the Public Health Inspectorate, St George West wrote to the Licensing Committee, Magistrates' Court on Thursday asking that the occasional/dancehall licence be revoked because of existing unsanitary conditions detected by public health inspectors and also because of numerous complaints by patrons who attended an event on Wednesday.
Senior public health inspector Ian Maharaj said the conditions at Wednesday's event were a threat to public health and have remained unchanged. He said today's fete will be closely monitored for any shortcomings and warned errant promoters/operators of any likely repercussions. He said public health officials would be at the fete and would not hesitate to crack down on any deficiencies or violations.
Maharaj said a pre-inspection was conducted at the venue on Tuesday for the Bacchanal Wednesday event and conditions relating to public health and sanitation were found to be extremely unsatisfactory. Maharaj said there were insufficient and unsanitary toilet facilities, lack of hand washing facilities, inadequate plumbing and an accumulation of urine waste. He said efforts to contact the promoter of Bacchanal Wednesday proved futile up to late Wednesday.
The promoter was even contacted via the public announcement system at the event but that too, was unsuccessful. Maharaj's letter dated February 16 to the chairman/secretary of the Licensing Committee stated: "At the time of the departure of public health inspectors, conditions (Bacchanal Wednesday event) remained the same. "A revisit was again conducted on the morning of February 16 2012 and conditions remained the same.
"It is in the view of the aforementioned, as well as the view of the Public Health Inspectorate that reconsideration be given to the previous granting of an occasional/ dancehall licence or the revoking of same for the upcoming event today at Bowen Marine as existing conditions place the general pubic health at a great risk." Maharaj said on Wednesday patrons complained over a lack of running water for washing hands, lack of hand soap, sanitisers and general poor sanitation.
He added that food concessionaires plying their trade claimed that promoters broke their promises to provide running water. Maharaj said: "The area of the stored portable chemical toilets reeked of foul, pungent odour and buckets were being filled at the building's off limit toilet area to beef up the sorely lacking water by use of sinks." According to several Web site posting Carnival events, Zen (nightclub) was listed as promoter of the Trini Posse.
Contacted yesterday, businessman Johnny Soon assured there would be no concerns at the event. He said public health was most important and that he had no difficulties complying with public health regulations. He said: "We are better than most places." Soon added there will be "flush toilets."